1970 Map of Red Desert SE

About this map

Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape of the Great Divide Basin, captured in a 1970 field check by the Geological Survey. The prominent escarpment of Wells Bluff Delaney Rim dominates the western half of the map, revealing a stark geological transition where the land drops away from the plateau. This high desert terrain is punctuated by industry and early settlement traces, including several drill holes and a Corral that suggest the intersection of energy exploration and traditional ranching. To the east, the basin floor features the Red Lakes and the rising elevations of Big Hill and the Wamsutter Rim. The lack of permanent watercourses underscores the arid character of this watershed, where the topography itself directs the flow of seasonal runoff across the Sweetwater County plains.